Cape Town - Killarney’s second round of Extreme Festival National racing for 2016 will include not one but two motorcycle categories – and the competitors in one of them are in for a big surprise.
Riders in the anything-goes, run-wot-ya-brung Thunderbikes series will find themselves facing an unexpected late entry this Saturday from local hero David ‘McFlash’ McFadden on the RacePrep GSX-R1000 L5.
McFlash combines a master-class level of home-track advantage with several years of international experience in the World Superstock series, making him an intimidating competitor at any level. His presence raises the bar in this largely amateur big-bike series to a new level; the visitors are going to have to bring their A game.
But don’t think that McFadden is going to have it all his own way. Thunderbikes is open to motorcycles in the Supersport 600 class and bigger, with very few restrictions on permissible modifications. As long as your bike will pass the safety inspection and doesn’t have forced induction or nitrous oxide injection, you can race it – which has attracted some very fast motorcycles indeed.
It’s an explosive recipe and the result is likely to fireworks,
Red Square ZX-10R Masters Cup
The headline motorcycle category at Killarney this Saturday is unique in that it is a one-make series, allowing only minimal modifications, mostly safety related.
The series is, now in its 10th year – and with some of its founder riders still competing! That’s because it’s open to riders 35 and older, riding Kawasaki ZX-10R superbikes with sealed, standard engines and standard suspension on identical Bridgestone ‘control’ tyres.
The only variables are the skill and bravery of the riders – although a number are former National championship contenders with considerable experience of competing at Killarney – while others are ‘gentleman riders’ with little experience of racing away from the series’ base at Zwartkops.
For 2016 the Masters Cup entries have been split into three classes – Group A, for riders from 35-42 years old, Group B for riders from 43-50 and Group C for riders more than 50 years old. That means that there will be close racing throughout the field, because every rider has somebody of equal age and talent to dice with, on a motorcycle that is guaranteed to be no slower and no faster than his own.